Webb Simpson joined Ryan Moore and Stewart Cink at the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship.
Local boy shares the lead after round one in Charlotte
Webb Simpson joined Ryan Moore and Stewart Cink at the top of the leaderboard on seven-under-par after the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte.
North Carolina native Simpson - who lives within spitting distance of the Quail Hollow venue and is a member of the club - shot a 65 to join his fellow Americans at the head of the field.
The highlight of Simpson's round, played in the company of Tiger Woods, was an eagle at the par-four eighth while he also posted six birdies against just a single bogey.
"I was nervous playing with Tiger. I prayed a lot out there," Simpson told the PGA Tour website. "Once I made a couple birdies, I kind of enjoyed it."
With four bogeys and three birdies, Woods could manage only a one-under 71.
Too many mistakes
"I made too many mistakes on the front nine," said the 14-time major winner who was out in one-over 37.
"I didn't get up and down a couple times and made a couple of bad shots on the wrong side of the hole. Even on 10, you can't miss it right, and I missed it right."
Co-leader Cink was flawless with seven birdies and no bogeys in his round of 65, while fellow pacesetter Moore managed nine birdies against two bogeys.
A shot behind in a group of five players on six-under were Rickie Fowler and England's Brian Davis.
Rory McIlroy, a winner at Quail Hollow two years ago, fired a 70 in a round which featured some indifferent driving and a three-putt bogey from birdie range at the last.
Lee Westwood's round was spoiled by a double bogey at the 16th and a single at 18 which left him one under alongside Woods and Phil Mickelson, who made a triple bogey at the fourth, his 13th, after driving out of bounds.
"I'm not overly concerned because I feel like there's a hot round out there," said Mickelson.
"I'll come out here tomorrow afternoon and see if I can shoot something mid 60s and get right in it for the weekend."
Defending champion Lucas Glover finished at level par, as did Scotland's Martin Laird.
